Asheville Report Card: D to drug test bill

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space. Got an idea that makes the grade? Send it to JBuchanan@CITIZEN-TIMES.com

D is for drug test, and it's also the highest grade we could give to the N.C. Senate for pushing through a bill designed to strip public benefits such as job training and food stamps for people who fail a drug test. Those applying for benefits are required to pay for their own drug tests; if they pass, the state will reimburse them. In our view the bill carries a presumption of guilt that renders it unconstitutional, and indeed similar bills have been struck down by the courts, such as one in Florida. During that state's four-month run at drug testing, a whopping 2.6 percent of applicants failed drug tests. North Carolina's policy could cost the state more than $2 million. An amendment calling for drug testing of legislators, the governor and cabinet secretaries was rejected. Testing proponent Sen. Jim Davis, R-Macon, said he wouldn't mind being tested but didn't care for the amendment as it had no mechanism to reimburse him the $100 needed for testing. As a remedy for that?

C to Action NC, a political group opposing the GOP's legislative agenda, for offering to send "pee cups'' to political leaders in the state. The group (for a fee, of course) will send cups to state representatives, senators and even the governor. In its pitch it said, "One good political stunt deserves another" and proclaimed, "We will tell N.C. General Assembly that if they are going to require drug tests for North Carolina residents, then they should pee first." We would caution anyone taking this task upon themselves to not include a return address in the event one of the honorable decides to respond.

D to the dubious choice by someone connected to the National Park Service for putting up signs blaming closures on sequestration cuts, including one at Linville Falls Campground. U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-11th District, joined U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, in a Monday letter asking the secretary of the Department of Interior for information about the signs. The sign at the campground, located near Linville Gorge, tells visitors the site is closed in red handwritten letters and announces an "operational change due to sequestration." The campground is set to open May 24. "Posting professionally printed metal signs that claim sequestration has forced park closures, such as those posted at Linville Falls Campground in the 11th District, is nothing more than a wasteful political statement," Meadows said in a written statement on Tuesday. Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis recently told the oversight committee that he was unaware of any signs but said they are "inappropriate" and would be taken down. In the same vein ?

F to Congress for forcing the military to keep intact ships, aircraft, military bases and other programs the Pentagon says it can't afford, doesn't want or won't be able to use. The Associated Press reports, "This year, military officials say Congress' refusal to retire ships and aircraft means the Navy and Air Force are spending roughly $5 billion more than they would if they were allowed to make the cuts. In some cases Congress restored funds to compensate for the changes, but the result overall was lost savings." Todd Harrison, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told the AP: "A lot of it comes down to parochial political interests. No member of Congress wants to have a base closed in their district or to have a fighter squadron relocated out of their district."

A to Asheville Running Tours, which helped to spearhead Boston Strong Asheville, the instant response to the Boston atrocity. The run brought out close to 200 hundred people in a day and a half to run for Boston and raised more than $2,000, with more pledged. Want to donate? Go to www.onefundboston.org.

A to UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder, who has received the inaugural Dr. Claire Van Ummerson Presidential Leadership Award. The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators will honor Ponder on May 17 at the organization's Women's Leadership Symposium in Indianapolis. Named for the former Cleveland State University President and University System of New Hampshire Chancellor, the award honors a university or college president, chancellor, vice president or provost who has demonstrated leadership and promotion of women's opportunities in athletics administration or coaching. Honorees are nominated by industry colleagues and selected by the Women's Leadership Symposium Committee. Ponder has been UNCA's chancellor since 2005.

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Asheville Report Card: D to drug test bill

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space.